Duplicating machine



July 31, 1 934.- H. s. BRAAM 1,953,738

' DUPLICATIILIG MACHINE Filed March e, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hamid J.Efaam INVENTOR mma z/ ATTORNEY H. s. BRAAM 1,968,738

DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed March 6, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 M/Vf/VTORATTOP/Vf) July 31-, 1934. H. s. BRA-AM I DUPLICATING MACHINE Filedlla'rgh 6, 1935 Hafold J .Bfaam IIVVf/V TOR M A TTORNE) July 31, 1934.H. s. BRAAM DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed March 6, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Harold J. .Bfaam INVE N TOR 5745/ A TTORNE Y v, to

Patented July 31, 1934 PATENT- OFFICE 1,968,738 DUPLICATING MAcrnNHarold S. Braam Chicago, Ill; Application March 6, 1933, Serial No.659,651

" s Claims. (01. 101-133) My invention relates to duplicating machines.An object of my invention is to provide a duplicating "machine having"means for making copies from an original sheet without using a gelatinband or a gelatin medium.

' A further object of my invention is to provide a duplicating machineof the type having a flat bed and a carriage movable thereover, whichincludes novel means for connecting an original sheet with the bedwhereby copy sheets may be made directly from the original sheet.

A further object of my invention is to provide a duplicatingmachine ofthetype having a flat bedand a carriage movable thereover, whichincludes novel meansfor actuating the platen roller.

A further object of my invention is to provide a duplicating machine ofthe type having a hat he'dand a car riage movable thereover, in whichnovel means are provided whereby the carriage and the mechanism carriedthereby may be quick ly, easily and positively actuated.

- Aiurther object is to provide novel means in a duplicating machine ofthe type having a flat bed and a carriagemovable thereover, forautomatically removing the copy sheet from the machinesubsequent to theprinting of the copy sheet.

-Other objects and advantages. will appear in the followingspecification, and the novel features of the invention will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claimsz."

-My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming partof this application,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying my "invention. i

Figure 2 isatop plan view of the device shown inFigur'eL' Figure 3 is avertical sectional view taken substahtially along the lines 33 of Figure2,;

"Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially alongthelines 4-4: of Figure 2, certain portions being shown in elevation,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially along thelines 5--5 of Figure-4,

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along thelines 6-6 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along thelines 7-7 of Figure 3,-

Figure'8-is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 8- --8 ofFigure 5, and I Figures Band 10 are detail sectional views of portionsof my device.

In connection with my invention I make use of a primary sheet whichmaybe typed on a typewriter in the usual manner, and which, when being;typed, has a carbon sheet provided with suitable ink, such as hectographink, positioned at the back thereof so that the inked side of the carbonsheet will be in contact with the back at the primary sheet while theprimary sheet is being typed. As the primary sheet is typed'with thecharacters which it is desired to duplicate, the same characters areprinted on the back of the primarysheet in reverse by means of thecarbon sheet. The primary sheet will hereinafter be re-. ferred to asthe master sheet, and it is the side thereof having the characters inreverse that is utilized for duplicating purposes. a

In carryin' out my invention I provide a. su porting: structure or base10- shown in Figures! and 3, which has the shape in cross-section showninFigure 8 and comprises a bottom 12, sides 14, a front end 16, arearend 18, and a top 20. l A bed plate 22 is dispcsed'on thetop of the base10 andis provided withflanged side portions 24 disposed inspacedrelationship with respect to the sides 14. The bed plate may befixedly connected with thebase 10 in any suitable manher not shown. A.platen plate 261 is disposed in superimposed positionon the bed plate 22and may be connected therewith by any suitable means such as screws 28.r

The platenplate 26 has the side edges 30 thereof inclined inwardly fromtop to bottom as shown in Figure 10. A sheet retaining strip 32 ismovably mounted on the platen plate as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and isprovided with end portions 34' extending over the inclined edges of theplatenplate 26 and conforming in part to the inclination of the edgesfor slidably connect.- ing the strip 32 with the platen plate. 1 i

A sheet retaining plate 36 is slidably mounted on the bed plate 22 andis normally positioned for having the end 38 thereof coentiguous to theend 40 ofthe platen plate 26. i

A fastening block 42 is fixedly connected to the retaining plate 36onthe' lower side'thereof and extends through openings in'the bed plate22 and the top side 20 of the base 10.

A spring 44 is connected with the sheet retaining plate'36 and thebed'plate 22 for yieldingly retaining the sheet retainingplate in itsnormal" position. A knob 46 is connected with the sheet retaining plate36 whereby the sam may be manually actuated. v r

A pair of blocks 48 is positioned on opposite .sides of the sheetretaining plate 36 and is con-s nected with the bed plate 22 in anysuitable manner. The blocks 48 are positioned for engagement by the sideedges of the master sheet, and function as side guides so that themaster sheet may be properly located on the platen plate.

A carriage 50 is transversely positioned above the base 10 and ismovably mounted on the bed plate 22.

The carriage comprises a pair of end plates 52 positioned on oppositesides of the base and extending above the same, and a pair ofintermediate plates 54 as shown in Figures 5 and 6 disposed in spacedrelationship with respect to the end plates 52. The intermediate plates54 are connected with their respective end plates 52 by means of coverportions 56 and with each other by means of a connecting cover portion58.

The intermediate plates 54 are provided with wheels or rollers 60rotatably mounted thereon and riding on the top surface of the bed plate22 for movably supporting the carriage. The end plates 52 are alsoprovided with wheels or rollers 62 rotatably mounted thereon which arepositioned under the flange portions 24 of the bed plate and engage thelowermost edges thereof.

A platen roller or cylinder 64 is rotatably mounted in the carriage andis transversely positioned with respect to the base 10. As shown inFigures 3 and '7, the platen roller is mounted on a shaft 66, which hasthe ends thereof connected with arms 68 which in turn are pivotallyconnected with the intermediate plates 54 by pivot elements or pins 70.The axis of the platen roller 64 is positioned parallel to the topsurface of the platen plate 26.

The arms 68 are provided with recesses 69 for receiving the shaft 66 onwhich the platen roller 64 is mounted, the shaft 66 being retained inthe recesses by retaining screws '71 which extend through openings inthe arms. This structure provides means for removably securing theplaten roller to the arms and thereby enables it to be readily removedand replaced by another when it has become unsuitable for use.

By reason of the arms being pivotally con nected with the intermediateplates 54 it will be seen that the platen roller 64 may be positionedout of engagement with the platen plate 26 or r in engagement with theplaten plate in which position the platen roller is shown in Figures 3and '7.

Means for moving the platen roller out of engagement with the platenplate 26 consists of cam arms '72 pivotally connected with the arms 68by any suitable means such as pivot pins '74 and having the lower endsthereof in frictional engagement with the top surface of the bed plate22.

A spring '76 is associated with each of the arms 68 for retaining theplaten roller in or out of engagement with the platen plate, as the casemay be. Each of the springs 76 has an end connected with the coverportion 58 and the other end connected with the pivot pin '74 of the arm68 with which it is associated.

When the springs 76 extend below the pivotal axis of the arms 68, theytend to hold the platen roller 64 in engagement with the platen plate26, but when the carriage is moved to the left in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7,the cam arms '72, by

reason of their frictional engagement with the is retained in spacedrelationship with respect thereto by the spring '76.

Means for moving the platen roller into engagement with the platen plateconsists of a pair of lever arms 82, one being positioned at each end ofthe carriage between the intermediate plates 54 and the end plates 52.The lever arms 82 are pivotally mounted on a shaft 84 which is rotatablymounted in the end plates and partitioning plates of the carriage, asshown in Figures 4 and 6.

The lever arms 82 are provided with projecting elements 86 which extendthrough slotted openings 88 in the intermediate plates 54, as shown inFigures 4 and 6, and which are adapted for engagement with shoulders 90of the arms 68 which retain the platen roller 64.

When the carriage 50 is positioned at the right end of the base 10 inFigures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the platen roller 64 is in engagement with theplaten plate 26. As the carriage is moved to the left the cam arms 72lift the arms 68 and thereby raise the platen roller out of engagementwith the platen plate. As the platen roller 64 is moved upwardly theshoulders 90 of the arms 68 engage the projecting elements 86 connectedwith the lever arms 82 and swing the lever arms 82 about their axesuntil he elements 86 engage ends of the openings 88 and thereby limitthe upward movement of the platen roller 64.

As the carriage approaches the left end of the base, the lever arms 82engage lugs 92 mounted on the bed plate 22, and cause the lever arms 82to be rotated counter clockwise as viewed in Figure 4.

The lever arms 82, by reason of the elements 86 being in engagementwiththe shoulders 90 of the arms 68, cause the arms 68 to be swungdownwardly until the springs '76 extend below the pivotal axes of thearms 68, at which time the platen roller 64 will be moved intoengagement with the platen plate 26. The bed plate 22 is provided withopenings 23 therein for receiving the cam arms '72 when the platenroller is moved downwardly so pin 95 connected with an end plate 52, asshown I in Figures 4 and 6. The latch arm 94 is provided with a hookedend portion 96 for engaging a projecting lug 98 connected with a sideportion 24 of the bed plate 22. Stop members 100 and 101 are alsoconnected with the side portion 24, and are adapted for abutting theends of the end plate 52 for limiting the movements of the carriage. Thestop member 101 is carried by a bracket 103 which is adjustablyconnected with the side portion 24 of the bed plate.

Anactuating handle 102 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 84, and extendsthrough an opening 106 in the cover portion 56. The actuating handle isprovided with an arm portion 108 connected therewith. A connecting arm110 has one end pivotally connected with the arm portion 108 by a pivotelement 112 and the other end pivotally connected with the latch arm 94by a pivot element 114.

It will be noted that the connecting arm 110 is provided with a slottedopening 116 for receiving the pivot element 114 so that when the latcharm 94 engages the lug 98, the latch arm may be moved for lockinglyengaging the lug without moving the connecting arm 110 and the handle102. When it is desired to disconnect the latch and 4, :thehandle ismoved to the right thereby causing the arm portion 108 and theconnecting arm 110to be moved downwardly for moving the latch arm 94about its pivotal axis.

As shown in Figures 4, 6 and '7, cam elements- 109' are fixedly mountedon the shaft 84 and are movable into and out of engagement with theshoulders 90 of the arms 68.

As the operator pushes on the handle for movingthe carriage to theright, the foam elements 109' bear against the shoulders '90 and consequently cause the platen roller to press against the platen plate. jA'friction roller 118 is carried by the carriage and, is positionedparallel to the platen roller 64 with which it'isnormally in engagement.The friction roller 118 is rotatably mounted on axial pins 122 connectedwith the intermediate plates 54 as shown in FigureB.

Apair of guide plates 124 and 126 are positioned between theintermediate plates 54 with which they are connected, and have theirends 128 and 130 respectively disposed in spaced relationship andadjacent the platen roller 64 and the friction roller 118, as shown inFigures 3 and 7. The guide plate 126 is disposed in an inclined positionwith respect to the carriage. I A copy sheet moistening means comprisesan elongated wick retaining casing 132 which extends betweenthejintermediate plates 54 and "is positioned beneath the frictionroller 118,

A pair of casing supporting members 134 are fixedly connectedwith theends of the casingf132 and are provided with recesses 1 36 therein'forreceiving pins 138 connected with the intermediate plates154, forpivotally connecting the end members 134, and thecasing 132 carriedthereby, with the intermediate plates. v The top ends of the members 134are yieldingly connected with the intermediate plates by means ofsprings 140." L n v p The members134 are'provided with downward- 1yextendin POrtions 142 which engage the top surface of the bed plate 22.v v v A wick or absorbent member 144 is disposed in the casing 132 fromwhich it projects andextends substantially the length of the platenroller.

It will be noted that the springs 140 and the extending portions 142retain the members 134 in pivotal connection with the pins 138 and tendto move the wick 144 into engagement with the platen roller 64. i v e vV A liquid supply tank 146 is connected with the guide plate 126 on thelower side thereof. A pipe 148 is connected with the tank 146 and thecasing 132 for providing communication therebetween, whereby a liquiddisposed in the tank may flow to thecasing 132 for moistening the wick14 4. The pipe 148 may be provided with a valve 150 for regulating theflow of liquid therethrough.

It will be noted on referring to Figures land 7 that cam tracks 152 aremounted on the be d plate 22, and are positioned for engaging itheextending portion's142 as the carriage approaches its position at theextreme left of the'base, thereby'rotate ing the members 134 on the pins138 for moving the wick 144 out of engagement with the platen roller 64.e r

Means for automatically removing the copy sheetfrom the'master sheetsubsequent to the printing of 'the copy sheet, comprises a sheetengaging strip 120 which is connected-with the easing 132 'on the lowerside thereof and extends substantially thelength of the platen roller.

The stop member 101 is positioned so that when the carriage is moved tothe extreme right. for engagement with the stop 101, the end 155 of thecopy sheet will rest on the strip 120. Asthe carriage is again moved toits normal position at the left,'the cam arms lift the platen roller andthe strip 120 moves the copy sheet from the master'sheet as the carriageis moved.

As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 8 a drawer 164 may be disposed in the base10 and slidably connected with the sides 14 by any suitable means suchas channel members166.

From the foregoing description of the structure of my device theoperation thereof may be readily understood. it

When it is desired to make a number of printed copies or duplicates ofan original, a master sheet 154 is first provided, in the mannerpreviously stated herein, which has the characters it is desiredtoduplicate delineated thereon in copying ink and reversely positioned.

The carriage 50 is then moved to'its extreme right positionwith respectto the base 10 when viewed as in Figures 1 and 3.

The retaining plate 36 is then moved for enabling the operator toposition the top edge of the master sheet154 between the ends 38 and 40of the platen'plate 26 and the retaining plate 36 respectively. Theretaining plate is then released for gripping the master sheet betweenthe ends 38 and40. v

i The master sheet is then positioned fiat on the platen plate, afterwhich the retaining strip 32 is moved over the bottom end of the mastersheet as shown in Figure '1.

The carriage is then moved toward its extreme left position during whichtime the platen roller 64 is disposed in its uppermost position so thatit will pass over the master sheet without engaging the same. When thecarriage is disposed in its extreme left position the latch arm 94lockingly engages the lug 98, the downwardly extending portions 142 ofthe members 134 engage the cam tracks 152 for retaining the Wick 144 outof engagement with the platen roller 64, and the platen roller 64 .4 ismoved into engagement with the platen plate 26 by means of the leverarms 82 engaging the lugs 92, and the projecting elements 86 engagingthe'shoulders 90. V A copy sheet,not shown, is then positioned on theguideplate 126 so that the top .endportion thereof extends between theends 128 and 130 of the guide plates 124 and 126, respectively, andengages the platen roller 64 and the friction roller 118. 3A- guideelement 156 is adjustably connected .with the guide plate 126 by meansof a set screw 158 :for properly positioning the copy sheet latterallywith respect to the master sheet.

The handle 102 is then moved to the right in Figures 1 and 4, therebycausing the latch arm 94 to "disengagethe lug 98 and beginning themovement of the carriage toward the right end of the base.

As the carriage moves to the right the copy sheet is drawn between theplaten roller 64 and with which it is positioned substantially parallel.

As the top edge of the copy sheet movesbelow the wick 144, the members134 move out of engagement with the cam tracks 152 thereby permittingthe springs 140 to move the wick 144 into engagement with the lowersurface of the copy sheet thereby causing the sheet to be moistened.

As the carriage continues its movement to the right, the platen roller64 presses the moistened surface of the copy sheet into engagement withthe master sheet and the characters in reverse delineated thereon,thereby causing the characters to be transferred to the copy sheet.

It will be noted that the actuation ofthe handle for moving the carriageto the right causes a wedging action between the cam elements 109 andthe shoulders 90. This wedging action enables the platen roller to exertsuificient pressure on the copy sheets to cause the characters on themaster sheet to be duplicated on the copy sheets,

As shown in Figure 3, the sheet retaining plate 36 is provided with arecess 37 extending along the end 38 thereof.

It will be noted that when the carriage is being moved to the right theplaten roller first moves into the recess 37 and subsequently up overthe end 40 of the platen plate 26. When the platen roller moves into therecess, the arms 68 move downwardly and the cam elements 109 also aremoved downwardly by the handle, for engaging the shoulders'90 of thearms 68. When the platen roller, however, moves up over the end 40 ofthe platen plate, it will exert the maximum pressure against the copysheet, due to the increased wedging action between the cam elements 109and the shoulders 90.

Thus sufficient pressure is exerted by the platen roller against thecopy sheet to cause the master sheet to positively print the copy sheetwith clean out characters.

As the carriage terminates its movement to the right, it engages thestop member 101 and the copy sheet engages the strip 120.

As the handle is moved to the left preparatory to moving the carriage,the cam elements 109 are moved out of engagement with the shoulders90.Then as the carriage is moved, the platen roller is moved away from thecopy sheet and the copy ieet is moved out of engagement with the mastersheet by the strip 120.

While I have illustrated and described an embodiment of my invention, itwill be understood that modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and I therefore desire to be limited onlyby the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A duplicating machine comprising a bed for holding a printing sheet,a carriage reciprocable over said bed, a platen roller having arms forswingably securing the roller to said carriage for movement intoand outof operative position, means acting on said arms for moving said rollerinto feeding relation with a copy sheet for laying and pressing the sameon said printing sheet during the movement of said carriage in onedirection, means for applying moisture to said copy sheet as the same ismoved into printing position, means for retracting said moistener whensaid sheet has been moistened, means carried by said arms for elevatingsaid roller from contact with said copy sheet upon initial movement ofsaid carriage in the oppositedirection,

and a stripper engaging said copy sheet for removing the samelongitudinally from said printing sheet upon movement of said carriagein said last mentioned direction.

2. A duplicating machine comprising a base having a platen bed, acarriage reciprocable over said bed, a presser roller provided with arms0 pivotally secured to said carriage, whereby said roller can be movedto and from operative relation with said bed, a spring tending to retainsaid roller against movement from oneposition to the other, meanscooperating with said spring automatically elevating said roller toinoperative position for retention therein by said spring upon initialmovement of said carriage in one direction, and means cooperable withsaid spring upon the completion of the movement of the carriage in saiddirection to lower said roller to operative position.

3. A duplicating machine comprising a base having a platen bed, acarriage reciprocable over said bed, a presser' roller provided witharms pivotally secured to said carriage whereby said roller can be movedinto operative relation with respect to said bed during movement of thecarriage in one direction and into inoperative position upon the returnmovement of said carriage, means for elevating said roller upon initialmovement of said carriage in said last mentioned direction, means forlowering said roller to operative position upon the completion of saidreturn movement, means automatically locking said carriage in said lastmentioned position, a pivotally mounted handle carried by said carriagefor reciprocating the latter, and means operable by said handle forreleasing said locking means and simultaneously locking said roller insaid operative position. I

4. A duplicating machine comprising a bed, means for mounting a printingsheet on the bed, a reciprocable carriage movable thereover, a rollerhaving pivotal supporting means for securing the same to said carriage,said roller being adapted to move a second sheet into engagement with aprinting sheet on said bed for printing the second sheet whenthecarriage is moved in one direction, and means carried by said supportingmeans and engaging said bed for automatically moving the roller awayfrom the second sheet upon initial movement of said carriage in theopposite direction.

5. A duplicating machine comprising a bed, means for mounting a printingsheet on the bed, a reciprocable carriage movable thereover, a rollerhaving pivotal supporting means for securing the same to said carriage,means cooperating with said supporting means for automatically movingthe roller into contact with said bed upon return of said carriage topaper feeding position, means cooperating with said roller for feeding asecond sheet into contact with said printing sheet as said carriage ismoved in one direction, and means cooperating with said supporting meansfor automatically moving said roller out of contact with said secondsheet upon initial movement of said carriage in the opposite direction.

6. A duplicating machine comprising a bed, means for mounting a printingsheet on the bed, a re'ciprocable carriage movable thereover, a pair ofarms carried by the carriage, a roller carried by said arms and movableover the bed for press- 7 ing a second sheet into contact with saidprinting sheet as said carriage is movedin one direction, and meansconnected with one of said arms and cooperating with said bed for movingthe roller out of contact with said second sheet upon initial 1 movementof said carriage in the opposite direction.

7. A duplicating machine comprising a bed, means for mounting a printingsheet on the bed, a reciprocable carriage movable thereover, a pair ofarms pivotally connected by the carriage and positioned on oppositesides of the bed, a roller carried by said arms, means operativelyassociated with said arms and said bed for moving said roller intocontact with the bed upon completion of the passage of said carriage inone direction, means cooperating with said roller for moving a secondsheet into engagement with said printing sheet as said carriage is movedin the opposite direction, a pivotally mounted handle connected with thecarriage for reciprocating the same, and cam means operable by saidhandle into engagement with said arms for locking said ment of saidcarriage in one direction, movable means for moistening said copy sheetduring the transfer of the same to said printing sheet, and means forautomatically moving the moistening means away from said platen rollerupon completion of the transfer of said copy sheet to said printingsheet.

HAROLD S. BRAAM.

